At the beginning of 2024, foreign trade enterprises are actively grabbing orders, expanding markets and trying to seize new opportunities. In the face of difficulties and challenges in the development of foreign trade, a number of departments will also launch new policies, focusing on cultivating new momentum. Interviewed experts believe that, relying on new kinetic energy, new markets, new policies, import and export is expected to consolidate the momentum of improvement. Under the combined efforts of many parties, China's foreign trade is expected to open a new situation in the changing circumstances.

　　Enterprises "spell" orders to seize the new opportunities of the peak season

　　Foreign trade enterprises are seizing the new orders in the beginning of the year, planning for the new plan in 2024.

　　Zhejiang, a clothing equipment industry, the person in charge of foreign trade, told the Shanghai Securities News reporter, in the clothing industry, personalized customization trend, the company's product demand is relatively stable, seventy percent exported to Southeast Asia and South Asia, the orders lined up to March.

　　"We produce digital printing equipment, less pollution, less energy consumption, is a new green product. Overall in a better track, the market demand is rising." The person in charge told reporters.

　　Chen Zhixin, deputy general manager of Shanghai Youtong International Trade Co. told reporters, "We are an enterprise that imports meat and agricultural products, with our main business in Brazil, and domestic imports are expected to see explosive growth in 2024."

　　A series of data can also reflect the stabilization and improvement of foreign trade. 2023 the first three quarters, the monthly import and export growth rate of private enterprises are higher than the overall, the proportion of private enterprises exporting products of independent brands increased to 22.7%; cross-border e-commerce import and export growth of 14.4%; the "new three samples" product exports increased by 41.7% year-on-year. ......

　　The fourth quarter of 2023 showed many encouraging signs. Exports in yuan-denominated terms rose 12% year-on-year in November, reaching a peak after the second quarter, and China's exports to the U.S. rose 9.6% in November, ending 14 months of decline. Cell phones, home appliances and other consumer electronics products rebound momentum is obvious, in November the amount of integrated circuit imports growth rate for the first time in a year turned positive.

　　Policy "excellent" environment to help enterprises stabilize orders

　　Foreign trade situation stabilized and improving at the same time, there are also factors of instability. 2023 since December, the Red Sea tensions, shipping prices soared, foreign trade enterprises reflected profit pressure.

　　"The rise in shipping prices has doubled the cost, and the shipping cycle has become longer, increasing instability. And the market competition is fierce, the unit price of the product is low, but the cost is rising, the absolute value of the profit in 2023 is lower than the previous two years." The above Zhejiang enterprises in charge of foreign trade told reporters.

　　Li Xingqian, director of the Department of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Commerce, recently analyzed that there are three major challenges to foreign trade in 2024, including the unpredictable trend of external demand, the increase in non-economic factors variables, and the rise of trade protectionism from time to time.

　　Against this background, he said that the Ministry of Commerce will work with local departments to continue to implement the various policies that have been introduced to stabilize foreign trade in the next step. At the same time, in view of the new situation and new tasks, research and reserve new policies and measures to promote the timely introduction of good publicity and interpretation.

　　Previously, the policy level has been issued "on the promotion of foreign trade to stabilize the scale of excellent structure of the views" "on accelerating the development of internal and external trade integration of a number of measures" and so on, but also organized the Fair, trade in clothing will be, digital trade will be, the Canton Fair and other economic and trade events, increase trade policy support to help enterprises to stabilize the order to expand the market.

　　Foreign trade "stable" momentum in the changing situation to open a new situation

　　China's foreign trade is expected to continue to stabilize and improve momentum. Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shu Juting said at a recent press conference that trade activity has continued to rise in recent months, external demand shows signs of warming, and business expectations continue to improve. A tracking survey by the Ministry of Commerce shows that export orders from foreign trade enterprises have improved for six consecutive months.

　　Zhao Fujun, director of the Comprehensive Research Office of the Foreign Economic Research Department of the Development Research Center of the State Council, said in an interview with reporters that the development of China's foreign trade in the first quarter of 2024 presents both opportunities and challenges. Economic rebound to good trend continues to consolidate and strengthen, high level of opening up to the outside world, etc. will provide strong support for China's stable foreign trade.

　　In response to the recent tensions in the Red Sea situation on the adverse impact of shipping costs, Zhao Fujun suggested accelerating the diversification of trade channels. For example, accelerate the development of China-EU liner, and further enhance the status of China-EU liner in China's trade channel.

　　In a series of policy support, China's foreign trade is expected to open a new situation in the change. The reporter learned that the next step will be to accelerate the Ministry of Commerce to cultivate new forms of foreign trade and new modes, promote cross-border e-commerce exports, promote the expansion of the comprehensive bonded zone bonded maintenance product catalog range, and then support a number of out-of-area bonded maintenance, remanufacturing project pilot landing. Expand trade in intermediate goods and deepen international supply chain cooperation.